Summer TV full of sin, sand and sizzle

Published 5:19 pm, Thursday, May 30, 2013

“Devious Maids” features Roselyn Sanchez (from left), Ana Ortiz, Dania Ramirez and Judy Reyes in a series from Marc Cherry and Eva Longoria of “Desperate Housewives.”

“Devious Maids” features Roselyn Sanchez (from left), Ana Ortiz, Dania Ramirez and Judy Reyes in a series from Marc Cherry and Eva Longoria of “Desperate Housewives.”

Photo: Ron Tom / ABC

Summer TV full of sin, sand and sizzle

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We know all good things must come to an end, but when the farewells involve favorite television shows, withdrawal pains can be excruciating.

Get ready for some relief. Summer is far from the TV wasteland it once was. A brimming beach bag of new series — thrillers, comedic dramas, romances, reality and fantasy shows — will try to satisfy until your favorites return in the fall. Here are five to help you survive:

“Devious Maids” (9 p.m. Sundays, Lifetime; premieres June 23): If you miss “Desperate Housewives,” help is on its way — domestic help. Two names from the former ABC hit — star Eva Longoria and creator Marc Cherry — helm this soapy drama, which follows five Beverly Hills maids, all Latina, all easy on the eyes, all with an agenda. Its fun pace and comical tone are reminiscent of “Housewives” and, like the women of Wisteria Lane, these ladies bond over problems; here, they mostly stem from insensitive employers. Like its predecessor, this hour contains a mystery; when one maid, who's fooling around with the master of the house, is stabbed to death, another maid starts playing detective. Giving this sudsy drama a bit of heft is the strong cast, which includes Judy Reyes, Dania Ramirez and Ana Ortiz.

“Mistresses” (9 p.m. Mondays, ABC; Monday): Based on a popular British drama of the same name, this new confection focuses on four female friends in Los Angeles who are great successes at their chosen careers but a bit of a mess at romance. Though no “Sex and the City,” this sudser does have its moments, particularly when our beauteous and fashionable gals get saucy between the sheets. Alyssa Milano may be the most recognizable name here, but her lesser-known co-stars are more than capable. Fluff, sure, but the storylines are juicy enough to make it addictive.

“Under the Dome” (9 p.m. Mondays, CBS; June 24): When the story comes from horror master Stephen King, you can't help but sit up and take notice. This serialized adaptation takes us once again to his favorite setting, Maine, where a small town is suddenly and bizarrely sealed off from the rest of the world by a massive transparent dome. The inhabitants are forced to deal with surviving post-apocalyptic conditions within the barriers while hunting for answers about the strange dome — where it came from and when they may be free of it. Most of the cast is fairly unknown, but fans of “Breaking Bad” will recognize the always-strong Dean Norris, aka “Bad's” Hank, as a guy who seems to be harboring some significant secrets.

“Ray Donovan” (9 p.m. Sundays, Showtime; June 30): Already pining for more “Scandal”? In this edgy new drama, movie actor Liev Schreiber plays a kind of male version of Olivia Pope, only he fixes problems in L.A. rather than D.C. As a well-paid troubleshooter for the rich and famous, Ray Donovan stops at nothing to rid his clients of misery. As if this doesn't put enough strain on his family, his dangerous ex-con dad (Jon Voight) invades his world again, wreaking more havoc. The cast alone — which also includes Elliott Gould — makes this one tantalizing.

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“Camp” (9 p.m. Wednesdays, NBC; July 10): Making a seemingly typical summer entry — a funny drama set at a family vacation spot — not so typical was the interesting casting of Australian actress Rachel Griffiths of “Six Feet Under” fame in the lead role. She plays Mackenzie, director and owner of a Midwest destination called Little Otter Family Camp, which caters to adventurous kids, naughty teens and stressed-out parents looking to decompress over gin and tonics. While striving to make the experience fun for all, the newly divorced owner struggles with economic and romantic woes of her own in this lively show shot in Australia.

“72 Hours” (8 p.m. Thursdays, TNT; Thursday): Contestants on this “Survivor”-type reality show are deposited in the wilderness with only a bottle of water, a GPS device and a mission to find a case filled with $100,000.

“In the Flesh” (9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, BBC America): Lovers of “The Walking Dead” will want to check out this moving three-night take on the zombie trend, which introduces us to a zombie teenager (actually one of the many here who suffer from Partially Deceased Syndrome) and his reintegration back into both the local community and the bosom of his family.

“Graceland” (9 p.m. Thursdays, USA; Thursday): Don't let the title fool you; this show has little to do with Elvis and everything to do with drug crimes fought by a group of attractive undercover agents (Daniel Sunjata and Vanessa Ferlito included) who room — and surf — together in picturesque Southern California.

“Sinbad” (8 p.m. Saturdays, Syfy; Saturday): This British series follows the legendary, but flawed, hero Sinbad (Elliot Knight), as he embarks on an epic sea journey that leads to a confrontation with his nemesis, played by “Lost's” Naveen Andrews.

“Twisted” (8 p.m. Tuesdays, ABC Family; June 11): A charismatic 16-year-old (Avan Jogia) returns to his hometown five years after killing his aunt, reuniting with his mom (Denise Richards) and supportive friends amid suspicions that he is behind a murder at his school.

“Get Out Alive With Bear Grylls” (8 p.m. Mondays, NBC; July 8): New adventure-reality competition series follows “Man vs. Wild's” Grylls as he leads an extreme survival journey that tests 10 teams of two on New Zealand's treacherous South Island.

“The Bridge” (9 p.m. Wednesdays, FX; July 10): When a judge known for her tough stance on immigration is found dead on a bridge connecting Texas and Mexico, an El Paso police detective (Diane Kruger) teams up with an officer from across the border to investigate.

“Whose Line Is It Anyway?” (7 p.m. Tuesdays, CW; July 16): The old improv comedy romp gets an update, but will still feature former staples Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady and Colin Mochrie.

“Broadchurch” (9 p.m. Wednesdays, BBC America; Aug. 7): Two detectives with very different styles — David Tennant (“Doctor Who”) and Olivia Colman — investigate the murder of a young boy in a British seaside town.